Turning the Pages of Time

As we turn the pages of our lives and move on to another experience, Christmas slowly passes from present to immediate past.  It was glittery, it was tasty, it was lively, and it was fun.  Now it’s time to celebrate the New Year.  Another brand new page to write our destiny and our lives for that matter.

Before we say goodbye to the Christmas of 2011, I would like to post a few pictures of this wonderful experience which brought out the child that lives inside of us.

Snapshot of an enticing carousel and a tall Christmas tree at El Dorado Mall in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a large Christmas tree which is always present in many homes during this time of the year. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a sales promoter with a nice Santa's cap posing for the camera. Now wonder Mr. Santa Claus is always laughing, having assistants like these. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

And this is the Christmas that was.  I hope to see you again next Christmas 2012.  Good Day.

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Christmas on Wheels

When Abdiel—our grandnephew—was about three, his godfather gave him a  bicycle for Christmas.  At such a young age, he barely used it.  We kept the bike at home, and every time he came over, we persuaded him to ride the bicycle.  Two rounds inside the livingroom and that was it.  He preferred to play with a bunch of multi-colored Hot Wheels toys my wife had given him.  As he grew older, he learned how to ride the bicycle and abused it to such a degree, the poor bike can barely roll its wheels.  Abdiel was screaming for a replacement.  Screaming is a soft word, in fact he shouted so loud it could be heard by the natives in Timbuktu.

His father who drives a yellow taxi, is having a hard time buying all the stuff for the traditional Christmas and New Year’s dinner.  There wasn’t money to spend on expensive toys.  Abdiel wouldn’t take No for an answer.  He wanted a new Raly bicycle for Christmas and that was it.  Period.  Alcibiades, the father, told us about the situation.  I said, “No problem.” “Pass the hat amongst the closest relatives and friends and ask for money.” The 20-30 Club does it every year and rakes in millions of dollars.  In Panama they call it the Annual Teletón.  Two weeks ago they raised more than $5 million in just 48 hours.

Immediately I made a list of potential contributors and came up with $90.00 which was a little more than the cost of the bicycle.  The next day the hat was passed out and money started to flow in.  Now as much as we expected, but nonetheless, it was money the desperate father didn’t have.

To make a long story short, two days before Christmas Eve, the money was raised in its entirety, plus the bicycle dealer gave us a discount and the final price tag of the bicycle came down to $76 and change.  Abdiel would have his bike.

Somehow, the word got to him and he cried and cried until his father brought him to our house to see the sparkling yellow bicycle.  When he saw it, his eyes opened the size of a quarter and shouted, “Tengo bicicleta nueva.” (I have a new bicycle).  He wanted to take it home, but we said not yet. Santa needed to inspect it before delivering it to his house on Christmas Eve.  He understood Santa’s wishes and reluctantly went home empty-handed.

While he was home, I took a couple of shots of Abdiel, Karol and the bike to freeze the happy encounter.  I’m sure these pictures will be viewed and reviewed again in the future while I’ll be looking at the Gardenias from the roots, if you know what I mean.

No more talking, now let’s take a look at the brand new bike and “The Twisters.” Here we go.

Photograph of Abdiel's brand new yellow bike which Santa or el Niño Dios, as we say here in Panama, gave him for Christmas. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

There are no sad faces in this picture. Abdiel can now pedal through his neighborhood to his heart's content. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Karol the Hollywood wanna be, also posed with the flashing bike. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Abdiel can't hide his emotions after seeing and feeling his new bicycle. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Karol poses to the camera with absolute confidence. Natural born actress. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Thanks to an iron will and very strong lungs, Abdiel finally got his two wheeler. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Karol smiles because she knows, that one way or another, she will also ride the bike. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

And now you know why this post is called Christmas on Wheels. Happy biking Abdiel.  Good Day.

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Christmas Fun At Parque Omar

After visiting Mayin’s Bazaar at Parque Belisario Porras, we continued with our adventure of exploring other places in Panama  City which were Christmas decorated.  That was Parque Omar in the neighborhood of San Francisco de la Caleta.

Parque Omar is named after General Omar Torrijos, a military leader who has left an deep imprint of his political ideas in the country.  He is mainly responsible of negotiating the Torrijos-Carter Treaty with the United States in 1977.  As a direct result of this treaty, the U.S. relinquished full jurisdiction of the Panama Canal to the Republic of Panama at midday of December 31, 1999.  It was the last day the United States raised its flag in the Panama Canal Zone.

Parque Omar is under the supervision of the First Lady, Marta Linares de Martinelli.  This year she decided to enhance the appearance of the park with gorgeous Christmas decorations.  They now compete head-to-head with those of the Cinta Costera.

At Parque Omar, we found several free entertainment machines which were the delight of all the children there.  I was impressed with the high number of children with their parents at the park.  I rode of these machines called The Dragon with the Abdiel.  I almost pissed in my pants.  That machine was rough to ride, but Abdiel was raising his hands and laughing throughout the ride.  I guess I’m getting old.

Below are several photographs depicting our stay at Parque Omar on December 8, 2009.  For young children, there is never a dull moment.  Here we go.

Photograph of one the many electric Christmas decorations located in several parts of Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Santa Claus goes fishing in a Christmas decoration at Parque Omar in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

A special stage was built at Parque Omar for daily Christmas events. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of one of the angels which decorated the Christmas stage at Parque Omar. The structure was donated by Cable & Wireless, a British cell phone company doing business in Panama. You can see a C&W's mobile phone in one of the angel's hands. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.

Photograph of another angel decorating the special stage built at Parque Omar. This time the cell phone is being held in the angel's other hand. You just can't get business out of Christmas nowadays. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Abdiel and Carol ride a firemen's helicopter carousel at Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Abdiel smiles at the camera on board a firemen's helicopter carousel at Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Carol and Abdiel receive a hug by the red-and-white Ho Ho man himself. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)

Just about 9:00 p.m. we decided to call it quits.  Abdiel had to get ready to attend classes the following day and he’s a late sleeper.  We had a difficult time detaching both of them from the park.  I felt a little bit guilty, but “a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.” Good Day.

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Photograph of the Day: Santa’s Seat

Abdiel and Carol share Santa's seat at Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

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A Traditional Panama Miniature Nativity Scene

When I was a kid, I remember helping my mother prepare the nacimiento or miniature nativity scene.  In Spain and Colombia they are called pesebres.  It is a very traditional Roman Catholic custom in Panama.  We collected carton boxes to represent the hills and used sand and mirrors to make miniature roads and ponds.  Every year we would buy a few houses and miniature shepherds to make the nacimiento larger.  When mom lighted the nacimiento there was magic in our house.

Then came Santa Claus and the tradition started to fade away.  It was hard to look the other way when there was an ubiquitous Santa singing Ho, Ho, Ho.   Now the Roman Catholic church is promoting the nacimientos again in Panama.  Slowly, but surely, many houses are currently decorated with nacimientos of different sizes and complexity.  Yesterday I went to see one located a couple of houses where I live at Residencial El Bosque in Panama City.

The owner of the house is Francisco Bustamante and he has been upgrading his nacimiento for over ten years.  All of his garage is the scene of the birthplace.  This year he added a bedroom of his home totally dedicated to kids, but that’s another story, maybe for tomorrow.

When I got to Mr. Bustamante’s house and got to see when he had for us this year; I was stunned.  It was the most spectacular nacimiento I have ever seen anywhere.  I needed more than two eyes to capture the full details of the splendid birthplace.  There were houses of different styles and shapes, elephants, horses, camels, dogs, roosters, hens, sheep, dogs, cows…and the list is endless.  There were almost as many animals as they were in Noaha’s ark.  Luckily I had my camera with me and these are the pictures of Mr. Bustamante’s magic place.  Take a look.

The scene of baby Jesus in the manger with his parents and the three kings of orient.

The details of a home in Bethlehem and the lighted trees in front of the house.

Notice how carefully the nacimiento was designed. The small river to your left was real flowing water powered by a small electric pump under the nacimiento.

A closer view of the flowing river and its immediate surroundings.

This is the scene of the Holy Family arriving in Egypt after fleeing from the rage of King Herod who wanted to kill the newly-born baby in Bethlehem.

A view of the magnificent entrance to the palace of the Egyptian Pharaoh. Photo taken without a flash or tripod.

I hope you have enjoyed this pictures of a man who has dedicated more than ten years of his life traveling to many parts of the world buying additions to his beautiful nativity scene.  If you return tomorrow, I will show some of the pictures of a fantasy kids playground.  It covers a whole bedroom of Mr. Bustamante’s home.  Good Day.

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